The following two days were spent with people in and out of the house, shopping for clothes and for a headstone and casket, lots of food – my personal favorite, and making other arrangements. It was a very busy couple of days, to say the least, but it wasn’t all torture. We took lots of naps, watched a lot of movies, and played a lot of cards as well. Despite the reason for the visit looming in the air, it was actually a really nice time.
When the official day came, we were all on guard. We had no idea how Desi would react to everything. She’d been very calm over the past twenty-four hours, but we weren’t sure how the actual funeral would go.
Jax snuck out with Lana while I was napping with Desi the day before. He’d picked up a new suit for himself for the funeral and bought me a beautiful black dress. Thanks to Lana, it fit perfectly. It was an A-line with three quarter sleeves. Very classic. Very appropriate. I was proud of him for picking it out and flattered that he bought it for me, though I didn’t really like it when people spent their money on me.
When Jax and I arrived, almost everyone was sitting down, though there were several people wandering around with tissues as they greeted one another. The majority of the people in that church were my family members, and most of them I didn’t know. There were several people that we went to school with when we were kids. The thing that made me happiest was seeing some of the men that served with him in Iraq and Afghanistan. There was a dozen or more in attendance. I know that would have made him happy.
There was one man in particular that caught my eye. He was standing next to the head of the closed casket, eyes straight forward and still as a statue. He wasn’t there to only pay his respects. It looked as though he was standing guard. My heart skipped a little as tears welled in my eyes. It was a very sweet, honorable thing to do.
“Who is that man?” I asked Lana.
“An impressive and amazing young man,” she said. “That is Aiden. He was Caleb’s best friend. They toured together quite a few times. He just got back a few months ago.”
“That’s so sad,” I said.
“It really is,” she replied. “Desiree didn’t know him well. She’d met him a few times, but not at length. He was always traveling or on tour with the military. He came up and introduced himself to me and Desi, even though they’d met before. He was being extremely formal. He apologized to her for what happened and then asked if he could stand up there. She said he’s been up there for hours and hasn’t moved.”
“That poor man,” I said. “It’s amazing the bond that they sometimes share. Have you guys been here for hours? I thought you had other things to do this morning before coming.”
“We did. Desi asked that I drop her off, so I did. The pastor was already here and she wanted to pray with him. So, I went and grabbed some arrangements and brought them in. She’s been greeting people as they come. She’s doing very well. I’m proud of her.”
So was I. I had no idea how she was holding up, but she was doing an amazing job. Jax and I made our way on, finding a seat in the front row. I was glad that one was held for us. Before I actually sat down, I found the refreshment area and grabbed a glass of water before taking it back out to the floor. I made my way up to Aiden and offered it to him.
“At ease, soldier,” I said with a smile.
He returned it.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, taking the water. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“It’s quite alright. That’s my cousin you’re guarding there. I figured someone should water you before you pass out.”
He smiled again. “Thank you, again, ma’am. I’m sorry for your loss. If there is anything that I can do to help in this time, please just let me know. My name is Aiden.”
He quickly drank the water, and I took the cup from him.
“Thank you, Aiden. If you were as close to Caleb as I was told, maybe sometime you could sit with Desi, his wife, and tell her about some of the things that made him a hero. When she’s ready, of course.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I’d be happy to do that. He really was a hero. He saved me a time or two. If and when she’s ready to talk about him, I’d be happy to tell her anything she’d like to know. Sometimes it’s therapeutic to know more about the times they had to spend apart, at least it has been in some cases.”
“She’s strong, and sentimental. She will be one of those. Thank you again,” I said before turning to sit down next to Jax.
“That was very nice of you,” he said. He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “You are an incredible woman.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, a small smile on my face.
It was hard to feel happiness when everyone that you love is sad. Still, Jax made it easier. It took another half an hour for everyone to get settled and for the pastor to come to the front. Aiden never moved from his spot, and I found him to be a very honorable man. Certainly, a good friend to my cousin.
The entire morning was bittersweet. It sounds weird, I’m sure, but there was a lot of beauty to go along with the sadness. No one mentioned how he died. No one said that he was weak. He wasn’t. Everyone spoke of how beautiful he was as a person. They remembered him as a man that served family, friends, and country with the same determination. We were all heartbroken that he was gone, but we took solace in the fact that he was loved by so many. I just hoped that he was looking down and seeing what all of us saw.
When the pastor asked if anyone would like to say anything before we headed to the cemetery, Aiden turned and asked for permission. He stepped up to the podium, the first time any of us had seen him move from his spot. He gripped the edges of the podium as he gathered his thoughts.
“Sergeant Caleb Martin was one of the most amazing individuals that I ever had the pleasure of working with. I trusted him with my life, and he trusted me with his. When we were first put in the same unit, we had equal ranking, though I eventually got promoted. He bullied me every day for it. He said I sold out. Of course, I had to bully him back. So—I made him drop.” He smiled as he said the last sentence.
Everyone laughed, including Desi. She had a tissue and quietly wiped tears away from her face.
“I never married and never had kids. It wasn’t something that I saw myself doing. I had the military, and that was the only family that I needed. Martin… Sorry… Caleb, on the other hand, had the real deal. The military wasn’t his life. The only reason why he joined was because of this pretty little thing he couldn’t ever shut up about.”
Aiden’s eyes wandered over to Desi.
“I could probably tell you how many shiny blonde hairs were on her head, or how many gold flakes were in her green eyes. He was enamored with her, and all he wanted was to take care of her.”
Desi began to cry, but she was smiling. I could tell that it bothered her, but she seemed to want him to go on.
“Mrs. Martin,” he said. “I am deeply sorry for your loss, but I would be a terrible friend to him if I didn’t tell you exactly what that man thought of you. He’d probably haunt me forever. You were his everything. He wanted to give you a husband that you could be proud of. He wanted to give you babies. He wanted to give you everything that you ever hoped for. I’m sorry that it didn’t work out that way, but that doesn’t change just how much he loved you. When he got out, he and I would email one another. He'd talk about you, and I’d make fun of him for it.” He smiled again.
Desi laughed through her tears.
“We were brothers. Maybe not by blood, but that didn’t matter.”
He looked in our direction then.
“Because he was the only family I ever had, that makes all of you my family by proxy. I’m yours if you ever need me. Please, don’t hesitate. Thank you all for your time. I wish you the best. God Bless.”
Aiden stepped down and made his way back to his original place, standing guard. I wanted to speak, but I couldn’t. I knew if I got up there, I’d lose it. I decided to save my speech for later or possibly in prayer. I didn’t need to stand up in front of a hundred people to say what I needed to.
When everything was done, and all kind words were spoken, we took to our cars for the funeral. Aiden was at the head of the casket as one of the pallbearers. Tears fell down his stoic face as he carried alongside five other military men. Caleb was given a twenty-one-gun salute, and it was Aiden that delivered the folded flag to Desiree. She stood and hugged him, thanking him for his kind words. Once again, he reassured her and let her and Lana know that he would be there if they needed anything. It was his duty, he said.
I couldn’t have asked for a better goodbye for Caleb. He deserved to be remembered and respected. He was a good man, a good husband, and he would have been a great father. Hearing Aiden recount the way that Caleb had wanted to give Desiree children made me sad for them. She’d talked to me about it many times. They were good together. I was happy that Desi was strong. I hoped that she was just as strong as I believed her to be, so she could move on and one day have the family she’s always wanted and deserves.